Compression sock, device for donning/removing the sock, and method for donning/removing the sock

ABSTRACT

A method for donning/removing a compression stocking includes: providing a compression stocking, the compression stocking includes: a tubular compression stocking covers at least an ankle and has lateral sides, and a pair of tubular tunnels, each tunnel has a length, a diameter, and a longitudinal axis, the length is greater than the diameter, one tunnel of the pair affixed to each lateral side, the longitudinal axis of each tunnel is generally horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the other tunnel; providing a device for donning/removing a compression stocking comprises: a pair of vertical braces, and a pair of horizontally projecting prongs disposed between the pair of braces; inserting the prongs into the tunnels; inserting the foot into the stocking; and donning or removing the stocking by moving the braces as required.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to compression socks (or stockings), a devicefor donning/removing the sock, and a method for donning/removing thesock.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Compression socks (or stockings) are a medical device used to treat orto prevent certain disorders, such as venous disorders. Some patients,who use or wear such socks, may be elderly and/or may have challengedmobility (e.g., flexibility, strength, and/or dexterity). Such patientsmay find it difficult to don (or put on) and/or to remove the sockwithout assistance of another. This may diminish the patient'sself-esteem.

Accordingly, there is a need for a new compression sock (or stocking)that may be donned and/or removed by the patient without assistance ofanother, a device for donning/removing such sock, and a method fordonning/removing such sock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method for donning/removing a compression sock or stocking on apatient's leg and foot comprises the steps of:

providing a compression sock or stocking, the compression sock orstocking comprises: a tubular compression stocking covers at least anankle and has a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side,and a rear side, and a pair of tubular tunnels, each tunnel has alength, a diameter, and a longitudinal axis, the length is greater thanthe diameter, one tunnel of the pair affixed to the first lateral sideand the other tunnel of the pair affixed to the second lateral side, thelongitudinal axis of each tunnel in a pair is generally horizontal andparallel to the longitudinal axis of the other tunnel;

providing a device for donning/removing a compression sock or stockingcomprises: a pair of vertical braces, and a pair of horizontallyprojecting prongs disposed between the pair of braces;

inserting the prongs of the device in to the tunnels of the sock orstocking;

inserting the foot into the sock or stocking; and

donning or removing the sock or stocking by moving the braces asrequired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in thedrawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of an embodiment of the instantinvention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are views (lateral and rear) of an embodiment of thestocking portion of the instant invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of an embodiment of the device for donning/removing thestocking.

FIG. 4 is a view of another embodiment of the device fordonning/removing the stocking.

FIG. 5 is a view of yet another embodiment of the device fordonning/removing the stocking.

FIG. 6 is a view of an embodiment of the base of the device fordonning/removing the stocking.

FIG. 7 is a view of an embodiment of a brace of the device fordonning/removing the stocking.

FIG. 8 is a view of an embodiment of a prongs of the device fordonning/removing the stocking.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements,there is shown, in FIG. 1, a patient 10 wearing stockings 14 with a pairof tunnels 16 using device 12 for donning/removing those stockings. Ingeneral, device 12 includes a pair of vertical braces 20 with a pair ofhorizontally projecting prongs 22 disposed between the braces 20. Ingeneral, each stocking 14 (or socks, these terms are usedinterchangeably) is a tubular stocking with at least one pair of tunnels16 affixed thereto. Both the stocking 14 and the device 12 will bediscussed in greater detail below.

Stocking 14, see FIGS. 2A and 2B, may be any type of compressionstocking. The stocking may cover an ankle A or the ankle and a knee B,or the ankle A, the knee B, and a thigh C. The stocking 14 includes atleast one pair of tunnels 16. Each tunnel 16 has a length (open end toopen end), a diameter, and a longitudinal axis. The length of the tunnelis greater than the diameter. In some embodiments, the length may be atleast 2 times greater that the diameter. In other embodiments, thelength may be 5 times greater than the diameter. In yet anotherembodiment, the length may be in a range of 2-10 times the diameter. Asshown, the tunnels 16 are disposed on the lateral sides of the stocking14. The tunnels 16 are disposed generally horizontally and thelongitudinal axis of each tunnel in a pair are generally parallel. Asshown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a first pair of tunnels 16 is disposedadjacent ankle A, a second pair of tunnels 16′ is disposed adjacent kneeB, and a third pair of tunnels 16″ is disposed adjacent thigh C. Thetunnels 16 may be affixed to the stocking 14 in any conventional manner.The stocking and tunnels may be made of any conventional material.

The device 12 may be configured into several embodiments, for example,see FIGS. 1 and 3 (open configuration 12), FIG. 4 (closed configurationwith base 12′) and FIG. 5 (closed configuration without base 12″). Otherconfigurations may be possible, so the device is not limited to theconfigurations shown. In each configuration, the device includes: a pairof vertically spaced apart braces 20 with a pair of prongs 22 disposedtherebetween. These configurations will be discussed in greater detailbelow.

In the open configuration 12 of the device, see FIGS. 1 and 3, thedevice includes a pair of vertically spaced apart braces 20 with a pairof prongs 22 disposed therebetween. The braces 20 may be adjustable inheight, discussed in greater detail below. Each braces may have agenerally horizontal handle 30 disposed at one end of the brace. Thebraces 20 may be removably affixed to a base 26. The base may beprovided with a plurality of holes 21 for reciept of a brace, so thatthe braces 20 may be adjusted front to back on the base, as desired. Abeam 28 may be positioned (or attached) on the base 26 between thebraces 20. The prongs 22 may be removably affixed in the beam 28, sothat the tines 24 are generally horizontal, parallel to the base 26, andgenerally perpendicular to the plane formed by the pair of braces 20.

Open configuration 12 may be used as follows: the tunnels 16 of thestocking 14 are slipped over prongs 22, the patient 10 from either asitting position (chair not shown) or a standing position (see FIG. 1)slips their foot (toe first) into the stocking on the prongs, then maypull the stocking up onto their leg (in FIG. 1, the stocking is over theankle, knee, and thigh—but is not so limited), and thereafter thepatient simply slides their leg out of the device (removing the prongsfrom the tunnels). To remove the stocking, the procedure is reversed.

In the closed configuration with base 12′, see FIG. 4, the deviceincludes a pair of vertically spaced apart braces 20 with a pair ofprongs 22 disposed therebetween. The braces 20 may be adjustable inheight, discussed in greater detail below. Each braces may have agenerally horizontal handle 30 disposed at one end of the brace. Thebraces 20 may be removably affixed to a base 26. The base may beprovided with a plurality of holes 21 (not shown) for reciept of abrace, so that the braces 20 may be adjusted front to back on the base,as desired. A two part beam 28 and 28′ may be positioned (or attached)on the base 26 between the braces 20. The first pair of prongs 22 may beremovably affixed in the beam 28 and a second pair of prongs 22′ may beremovably affixed to beam 28″. The tines 24 of each set of prongs 22 aregenerally horizontal, parallel to the base 26, and generallyperpendicular to the plane formed by the pair of braces 20. Crossmembers 32 may be used to removably interconnect the beam 28 (and/or28′) between the braces 20.

Closed configuration with base 12′ may be used as follows: the tunnels16 (and/or 16′) of the stocking 14 are slipped over prongs 22 (and/or22′) with the toe of the stocking pointed into the beam 28, the patient10 from either a sitting position (chair not shown) or a standingposition (not shown) slips their foot (toe first) into the stocking onthe prongs (alternatively, the device 12 may be tipped to facilitateinsertion of the foot into the stocking), then the patient may, ifnecessary, pull the stocking up onto their leg, and thereafter thepatient simply slides their leg out of the device (removing the prongsfrom the tunnels). To remove the stocking, the procedure is reversed.

The closed configuration without base 12″, see FIG. 5, is the same asthe closed configuration with base 12′ except the base 26 is removed.

Closed configuration without base 12″ may be used as follows: thetunnels 16 (and/or 16′) of the stocking 14 are slipped over prongs 22(and/or 22′) with the toe of the stocking pointed into the beam 28, thepatient 10 from a supine position (not shown, for example, laying in abed) slips their foot (toe first) into the stocking on the prongs, thenthe patient may, if necessary, pull the stocking up onto their leg bypull on the braces, and thereafter the patient simply slides their legout of the device (removing the prongs from the tunnels). To remove thestocking, the procedure is reversed.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the base 26. Base 26 is a generally planardevice and may include: feet 40 (provided, in one embodiment, to preventskidding), and/or brace receptacles 42, and /or a beam receptacle 44.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a brace 20. Brace 20 may be adjustable, inany conventional manner. As shown in FIG. 7, the brace may have twotelescoping parts, 20 a and 20 b. A detent 46 may be used fix the parts20 a and 20 b at the desired height.

FIG. 8 shows prongs 22. In the embodiment shown, prongs 22 include apair of tines 24 for reciept in the tunnels 16 of the stocking 14 and apost 25 (or pair of posts) for receipt in the beam 28. The prongs may bemade of any material. Prongs 22 and tines 24 may be made of a flexiblematerial, so that the prongs/tines may flex to aid in the removal of thestocking from the tines. As shown, the tines may angled toward oneanother to facilitate gripping of the stocking when the tines areinserted into the tunnels.

The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departingfrom the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly,reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to theforegoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A method for donning/removing a compression sock or stockingon a patient's leg and foot comprises the steps of: providing acompression sock or stocking, the compression sock or stockingcomprises: a tubular compression stocking covers at least an ankle andhas a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side, and arear side, and a pair of tubular tunnels, each tunnel has a length, adiameter, and a longitudinal axis, the length is greater than thediameter, one tunnel of the pair affixed to the first lateral side andthe other tunnel of the pair affixed to the second lateral side, thelongitudinal axis of each tunnel in a pair is generally horizontal andparallel to the longitudinal axis of the other tunnel; providing adevice for donning/removing a compression sock or stocking comprises: apair of vertical braces, and a pair of horizontally projecting prongsdisposed between the pair of braces; inserting the prongs of the devicein to the tunnels of the sock or stocking; inserting the foot into thesock or stocking; and donning or removing the sock or stocking by movingthe braces as required.
 2. The method for donning/removing thecompression sock or stocking compression sock or stocking of claim 1wherein the tubular compression stocking covers an ankle and a knee andhas two pairs of tubular tunnels, one pair adjacent the ankle and theother pair of tunnels adjacent the knee.
 3. The method fordonning/removing the compression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein thetubular compression stocking covers an ankle, a knee, and a thigh andhas three pairs of tubular tunnels, the first pair of tunnels adjacentthe ankle, the second pair of tunnels adjacent the knee, and the thirdpair of tunnels adjacent the thigh.
 4. The method for donning/removingthe compression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein the device furthercomprises a removable base upon which the pair of braces is removablyattached and the pair of prongs are disposed above the base.
 5. Themethod for donning/removing the compression sock or stocking of claim 1wherein the device further comprises a vertical beam disposed betweenthe braces and upon which the pair of prongs is affixed.
 6. The methodfor donning/removing the compression sock or stocking of claim 1 whereinthe device further comprises a beam carries more than one pair of prongsand the beam is disposed between the braces.
 7. The method fordonning/removing the compression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein thedevice further comprises a generally horizontally projecting handleassociated with each brace.
 8. The method for donning/removing thecompression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein each brace is adjustablefor height.
 9. A compression sock or stocking comprises: a tubularcompression stocking covers at least an ankle and has a first lateralside, a second lateral side, a front side, and a rear side, and a pairof tubular tunnels, each tunnel has a length, a diameter, and alongitudinal axis, the length is greater than the diameter, one tunnelof the pair affixed to the first lateral side and the other tunnel ofthe pair affixed to the second lateral side, the longitudinal axis ofeach tunnel in a pair is generally horizontal and parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the other tunnel.
 10. The compression sock orstocking of claim 9 wherein the tubular compression stocking covers anankle and a knee and has two pairs of tubular tunnels, one pair adjacentthe ankle and the other pair of tunnels adjacent the knee.
 11. Thecompression sock or stocking of claim 9 wherein the tubular compressionstocking covers an ankle, a knee, and a thigh and has three pairs oftubular tunnels, the first pair of tunnels adjacent the ankle, thesecond pair of tunnels adjacent the knee, and the third pair of tunnelsadjacent the thigh.
 12. A device for donning/removing a compression sockor stocking with a pair of tunnels disposed on lateral sides of the sockor stocking comprises: a pair of vertical braces, and a pair ofhorizontally projecting prongs disposed between the pair of braces, eachprong is adapted to fit into one tunnel of the pair.
 13. The device ofclaim 12 further comprises a removable base upon which the pair ofbraces may be removably attached and the pair of prongs are disposedabove the base.
 14. The device of claim 12 further comprises a verticalbeam disposed between the braces and upon which the pair of prongs isaffixed.
 15. The device of claim 12 further comprises a beam carriesmore than one pair of prongs and the beam is disposed between thebraces.
 16. The device of claim 12 further comprises a generallyhorizontally projecting handle associated with each brace.
 17. Thedevice of claim 12 wherein each brace is adjustable for height.